Blastomycosis: case report investigating a persistent pulmonary lesion in an immunocompromised patient.

Abstract

Blastomycosis is a well known infection caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis. It appears usually as a mild and self-limited disease, but disseminated cases are seen, especially in immunocompromised patients. In organ transplant recipients, fungal infections play an important role and in some cases can be fatal, but blastomycosis is a rare and uncommon condition in this setting and specifically in renal transplant patients. Its occurrence is probably due to previous exposure, but sometimes there is no clear history that indicates such exposure. We describe a patient who underwent a renal transplant and developed pulmonary blastomycosis.